U.S. patent number 7,525,792 [Application Number 11/391,013] was granted by the patent office on 2009-04-28 for electronic apparatus provided with housing having liquid proof structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba. Invention is credited to Satoshi Yokote.
United States Patent |
7,525,792 |
Yokote |
April 28, 2009 |
Electronic apparatus provided with housing having liquid proof
structure
Abstract
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a
housing, a unit supported on the housing, and a mounting section
which is provided on the housing and on which the unit is placed.
The mounting section includes an opening, a support wall which
surrounds the opening and supports the unit, a cut portion which is
provided in the support wall, and a lid which is fitted in the cut
portion and is a part of the support wall.
Inventors: |
Yokote; Satoshi (Ome,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
(Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
37694056 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/391,013 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20070025069 A1 |
Feb 1, 2007 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 29, 2005 [JP] |
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2005-220360 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.02;
200/302.1; 400/472 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
1/1616 (20130101); G06F 1/1656 (20130101); G06F
1/1662 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H05K
7/00 (20060101); G06F 1/16 (20060101); H05K
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;361/680,683 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2002-023890 |
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Jan 2002 |
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JP |
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2002-182790 |
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Jun 2002 |
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JP |
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2003-122454 |
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Apr 2003 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Vortman; Anatoly
Assistant Examiner: Hunter; Quinn
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor &
Zafman LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing; a unit supported
on the housing; and a mounting section which is provided on the
housing and on which the unit is placed; a circuit board contained
in the housing; a cable mounting groove provided in a wall of the
housing; and a cable extending through the cable mounting groove
from an outside of the housing and electrically connected to the
circuit board, wherein: the mounting section includes (i) an
opening, (ii) a peripheral wall, (iii) a support wall projecting
horizontally from the peripheral wall and surrounding an entire
peripheral edge of the opening, (iv) a cut portion which is
provided in the support wall, and (v) a lid which is fitted in the
cut portion and is a part of the support wall, the support wall
supporting an entire peripheral portion of the unit from below, the
entire peripheral portion of the unit being sealed in a
liquid-tight manner by the support wall, the cable mounting groove
includes a groove bottom positioned lower than the support wall,
and a pair of side walls uprising from the groove bottom, the cable
mounting groove communicating with the opening through the cut
portion, the cable mounting groove, the cut portion and the opening
are aligned with each other and upwardly open to extend the cable
to an inside of the housing before the lid is fitted in the cut
portion, and the lid covers the cut portion and supports part of
the peripheral portion of the unit from below to seal the part of
the peripheral portion of the unit in the liquid-tight manner.
2. An electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall
rises from that end part of the support wall which is situated off
the opening, the cut portion is made in the support wall and in the
peripheral wall, and the lid includes a rising portion which is
fitted in the cut portion and is a part of the peripheral wall.
3. An electronic apparatus according of claim 1, wherein the
mounting section is a keyboard setting section.
4. An electronic apparatus of claim 2, which further comprises, a
plate which covers the opening and is interposed between the unit
and the support wall, the support wall including a plurality of
engaging portions, the plate including a plurality of retaining
portions inserted in the engaging portions of the support wall and
hung up on a lower surface of the support wall to thereby fix a
peripheral portion of the plate to the support wall.
5. An electronic apparatus of claim 4, which further comprises, a
sealing member which is interposed between the plate and the
support wall, such that the sealing member is arranged between the
engaging portions of the support wall and the peripheral wall.
6. An electronic apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sealing member
is in the form of a frame which surrounds the opening, and the
engaging portions of the support wall.
7. An electronic apparatus of claim 5, wherein the support wall
includes a groove in which the sealing member is placed, the groove
extending perpendicular to a direction in which the peripheral wall
and the opening are aligned.
8. An electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support wall
includes a first surface facing the unit, and the lid includes a
second surface facing the unit, the first and second surfaces being
flush with each other.
9. An electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting section
includes a lid supporting portion which supports the lid, the lid
supporting portion being provided on the support wall and being
lower than an upper surface of the support wall by an amount equal
to a thickness of the lid, the lid being bonded to the lid
supporting portion.
10. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing; a unit supported
on the housing; and a mounting section which is provided on the
housing and on which the unit is placed, the mounting section
including (i) an opening, (ii) a peripheral wall, (iii) a support
wall projecting horizontally from the peripheral wall and
surrounding an entire peripheral edge of the opening, (iv), a cut
portion which is provided in the support wall, and (v) a lid which
is fitted in the cut portion and is a part of the support wall, the
support wall supporting an entire peripheral portion of the unit
from below, the entire peripheral portion of the unit being sealed
in a liquid-tight manner by the support wall.
11. An electronic apparatus of claim 10, which further comprises: a
circuit board contained in the housing; a cable mounting groove
provided in a wall of the housing; and a cable extending through
the cable mounting groove from an outside of the housing and
electrically connected to the circuit board, wherein: the cable
mounting groove upwardly opens and includes a groove bottom
positioned lower than the support wall, and a pair of side walls
uprising from the groove bottom, the cut portion includes a groove
through which the cable mounting groove communicates with the
opening, the cable is guided through the groove to avoid the
support wall such that the cable is received in the cable mounting
groove and the opening from above, the lid is fitted in the cut
portion and covers the groove of the cut portion, and the unit is
placed on the support wall and the lid and covers the opening.
12. An electronic apparatus of claim 10, which further comprises a
plate which is interposed between the unit and the support
wall.
13. An electronic apparatus of claim 12, which further comprises a
sealing member which is interposed between the plate and the
support wall.
14. An electronic apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mounting
section includes an opening which is surrounded by the support
wall, and the sealing member is in the form of a frame which
surrounds the opening.
15. An electronic apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the
support wall and the lid includes a groove in which the sealing
member is placed.
16. An electronic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the support wall
includes a first wall portion extending in a longitudinal direction
of the housing in front of the opening, a second wall portion
extending in a transverse direction of the housing on the left of
the opening, a third wall portion extending in the transverse
direction of the housing on the right of the opening, and a fourth
wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing
behind the opening, the first, second, third and fourth wall
portions being connected to each other.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-220360, filed Jul. 29,
2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to an electronic apparatus
provided with a housing having an opening, for example, having a
liquid-proof structure around the opening.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic apparatus, such as a portable computer, is provided
with a housing. A circuit board is contained in the housing. An
electronic component, such as a connector, is mounted on the
circuit board. Further, the housing has a keyboard setting section.
The keyboard setting section has an opening that opens so that the
circuit board is exposed through it. A keyboard is mounted on the
keyboard setting section so as to cover the opening.
If a liquid, such as coffee or water, is accidentally spilled on
the keyboard while the keyboard is being operated, it may enter the
housing through the opening. If the liquid wet the circuit board in
the housing, in particular, wiring may be short-circuited to cause
damage to electronic components that are mounted on the circuit
board. Thereupon, a novel computer has been proposed which is
provided with a waterproof structure. One such computer is
described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-122454,
for example.
The computer described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.
2003-122454 has a first exit hole that is formed in a keyboard
substrate. The first exit hole is above a guide channel that has a
second exit hole. The second exit hole is above a third exit hole
that opens to the outside of the computer.
In order to enhance the waterproofness of a portable computer, for
example, a region around the opening may possibly be made
watertight by bringing the keyboard into close contact with a
support wall that is formed on the keyboard setting section so as
to surround the opening and supports the keyboard.
However, the portable computer includes a display unit that
contains a display device, such as a liquid crystal display panel.
The display device is connected electrically to the circuit board
in the housing by, for example, a cable.
If the cable is guided into the housing through the opening of the
keyboard setting section, it never fails to be interposed between
the keyboard and the support wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
A general architecture that implements the various feature of the
invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The
drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate
embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the
invention.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a portable computer
according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exemplary exploded perspective view of a body
according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view showing a cut portion and
its surroundings according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing the cut portion
having a lid mounted thereon according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view of a first retaining
portion according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 6 is an exemplary perspective view showing how a plate is
mounted on a keyboard setting section according to the first
embodiment;
FIG. 7 is an exemplary sectional view of the portable computer
taken along line F7-F7 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is an exemplary sectional view of the cut portion and its
surroundings taken along line F8-F8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is an exemplary exploded perspective view of a body of a
portable computer according to a second embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 10 is an exemplary perspective view showing a cut portion and
its surroundings according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 11 is an exemplary sectional view of the cut portion and its
surroundings according to the second embodiment; and
FIG. 12 is an exemplary sectional view of the cut portion and its
surroundings taken along line F12-F12 of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Various embodiments according to the invention will be described
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In
general, according to one embodiment of the invention, an
electronic apparatus includes a housing, a unit, and a mounting
section which is provided on the housing. The mounting section
includes an opening, a support wall, a cut portion, and a lid. The
support wall surrounds the opening and supports the unit. The cut
portion is provided in the support wall. The lid is fitted in the
cut portion and is a part of the support wall.
Embodiments of the present invention that are applied to a portable
computer will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
FIGS. 1 to 8 show a portable computer 1 as an electronic apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 1, the computer 1 comprises a body 2 and a display unit
3.
The body 2 is provided with a box-shaped housing 4. The housing 4
has a top wall 4a, a peripheral wall 4b, and a bottom wall (not
shown). The top wall 4a of the housing 4 supports a keyboard 5. The
keyboard 5 is an example of a functional unit. The housing 4
contains a circuit board 6 therein.
The display unit 3 has a display housing 7 and a liquid crystal
display panel 8 therein. The panel 8 has a display screen 8a. The
screen 8a is exposed to the outside of the display housing 7
through an opening 7a in the front face of the housing 7. The
display panel 8 is connected electrically to the circuit board 6
which is accommodated in the housing 4 by a cable 9.
The display unit 3 is supported on the rear end part of the housing
4 by a hinge unit (not shown). Thus, the display unit 3 is rockable
between a closed position in which it covers the top wall 4a from
above and an open position in which it is raised to expose the top
wall 4a and the display screen 8a.
As shown in FIG. 2, the body 2 has a keyboard setting section 11 on
the top wall 4a and a plate 12 which is mounted on the setting
section 11.
The keyboard setting section 11 is an example of a mounting
section. It has an external shape a little larger than that of the
keyboard 5 and is hollowed corresponding to the thickness of the
keyboard 5. The keyboard 5 is removably placed on the keyboard
setting section 11. The setting section 11 has an opening 14,
peripheral wall 15, first bottom wall 16, cut portion 17, and lid
18. The first bottom wall 16 is an example of a support wall.
The opening 14 is formed substantially covering the whole area of
the keyboard setting section 11. It opens to the interior of the
housing 4, exposing the circuit board 6. The attaching of the cable
9 to an electronic component (not shown), such as a connector,
mounted on the circuit board 6 can be performed through the opening
14.
At the peripheral portion of the keyboard setting section 11, as
shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral wall 15 extend downward from the
top wall 4a that is situated off the setting section 11. The first
bottom wall 16 projects horizontally from the lower end of the
peripheral wall 15 toward the center of the opening 14. In other
words, the peripheral wall 15 rise from the peripheral end part of
the first bottom wall 16 which is situated off the opening 14.
The first bottom wall 16 has an upper surface 16u. The upper
surface 16u is an example of a first surface that faces the
keyboard 5. The first bottom wall 16 supports the keyboard 5 from
below when the keyboard 5 is mounted on the keyboard setting
section 11.
The first bottom wall 16 surrounds the entire peripheral edge of
the opening 14. More specifically, it has a first wall portion 16a
situated in front of the opening 14, a second wall portion 16b on
the left of the opening 14, a third wall portion 16c on the right
of the opening 14, and a fourth wall portion 16d behind the opening
14.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first bottom wall 16 has first, second,
third, and fourth engaging portions 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d. The
first engaging portions 21a are formed in the first wall portion
16a. They are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction
of the housing 4. Each first engaging portion 21a has a rectangular
cut that is cut in the rear end portion of the first wall portion
16a.
The second engaging portions 21b are formed in the second wall
portion 16b. They are arranged side by side in the transverse
direction of the housing 4. Each second engaging portion 21b has a
rectangular cut that is cut in the right-hand end portion of the
second wall portion 16b. The third engaging portions 21c are formed
in the third wall portion 16c. They are arranged side by side in
the transverse direction of the housing 4. Each third engaging
portion 21c has a rectangular cut that is cut in the left-hand end
portion of the third wall portion 16c.
The fourth engaging portions 21d are formed in the fourth wall
portion 16d. They are arranged side by side in the longitudinal
direction of the housing 4. Each fourth engaging portion 21d has a
rectangular hole that opens in the fourth wall portion 16d.
As shown in FIG. 2, the cut portion is made in a part of the bottom
wall 16 and the peripheral wall 15. The cut portion 17 is formed by
partially cutting the first bottom wall 16 and the peripheral wall
15 at a region in the left rear of the keyboard setting section 11.
As shown in FIG. 3, the cut portion 17 has a first groove 17a,
second groove 17b, first step portion 24a, and second step portion
24b.
Each of the first and second step portions 24a and 24b is an
example of lid supporting portion. The first step portion 24a is
situated at the left-hand end part of the cut portion 17. The
second step portion 24b is situated at the right-hand end part of
the cut portion 17. Each of the step portions 24a and 24b has a
second bottom wall 25, side wall 26, and rear wall 27. The first
step portion 24a has a tapped hole 28.
The second bottom wall 25 is situated in a position one step lower
than the first bottom wall 16. The side wall 26 of the first step
portion 24a rises from the left-hand end of the second bottom wall
25. The side wall 26 of the second step portion 24b rises from the
right-hand end of the second bottom wall 25. Each side wall 26
connects its corresponding second bottom wall 25 to the first
bottom wall 16. Each rear wall 27 rises from the rear end of its
corresponding second bottom wall 25. The tapped hole 28 is provided
in the second bottom wall 25 of the first step portion 24a. The
hole 28 opens upward.
The first groove 17a is situated between the first and second step
portions 24a and 24b and separates the respective second bottom
walls 25 of the step portions 24a and 24b.
The second groove 17b is located behind the first groove 17a. It is
situated between the first and second step portions 24a and 24b and
separates the respective rear walls 27 of the step portions 24a and
24b. The second groove 17b communicates with the first groove
17a.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, a cable mounting groove 29 is provided
behind the second groove 17b. The groove 29 is formed by a groove
bottom 29a and left- and right-hand side walls 29b that rise from
the bottom 29a. As shown in FIG. 8, the groove bottom 29a is
situated below the first bottom wall 16 of the keyboard setting
section 11.
Under the keyboard setting section 11, the cable mounting groove 29
communicates with the interior of the housing 4. More specifically,
the grove 29 communicates with the opening 14 through the first and
second grooves 17a and 17b of the cut portion 17. The cable 9
extends along the cable mounting groove 29 from the liquid crystal
display panel 8. It further extends into the housing 4 through the
opening 14. The cut portion 17 is located in a position
corresponding to the groove 29, that is, in a wiring position for
the cable 9.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 18 is removably fitted in the cut
portion 17. It is attached to and supported by the first and second
step portions 24a and 24b. The lid 18 has a third bottom wall 31,
rising portion 32, and hole 33.
The third bottom wall 31 has a width equal to that of the cut
portion 17, that is, the distance between the left-hand end of the
first step portion 24a and the right-hand end of the second step
portion 24b. Thus, the third bottom wall 31 of the lid 18 covers
the first groove 17a and is fitted between the respective side
walls 26 of the first and second step portions 24a and 24b. The
bottom wall 31 has an upper surface 31u, lower surface 31a,
left-hand side surface 31b, and right-hand side surface 31c. The
upper surface 31u is an example of a second surface that faces the
keyboard 5.
The thickness of the third bottom wall 31 is equal to the side wall
26 of the first or second step portion 24a or 24b. Thus, when the
lid 18 is attached to the first and second step portions 24a and
24b, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface 31u of the third bottom
wall 31 is flush with the upper surface 16u of the first bottom
wall 16.
The rising portion 32 of the lid 18 rises from the rear end of the
third bottom wall 31 and is substantially as high as the peripheral
wall 15. The rising portion 32 has a width equal to that of the cut
portion 17. Thus, the rising portion 32 of the lid 18 covers the
second groove 17b and is fitted between the peripheral walls 15 on
the left- and right-hand edges of the cut portion 17.
As shown in FIG. 3, the hole 33 is located in a position
corresponding to the tapped hole 28 of the first step portion
24a.
As shown in FIG. 7, the lower surface 31a and the left- and
right-hand side surfaces 31b and 31c of the third bottom wall 31
have an adhesive layer 34. A double-sided adhesive tape is one
example of the adhesive layer 34. The lid 18 is fixed to the first
and second step portions 24a and 24b by the adhesive layer 34.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plate 12 has an external shape larger than
that of the opening 14 of the keyboard setting section 11. One
example of the plate 12 may be suitably formed of a lightweight,
rigid material, e.g., a magnesium alloy. The plate 12 has first,
second, third, and fourth retaining portions 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d.
The first retaining portions 36a are provided in positions
corresponding individually to the first engaging portions 21a of
the keyboard setting section 11.
As shown in FIG. 5, each first retaining portion 36a has a first
member 37, second member 38, and insulator 39. The first member 37
projects downward from a lower surface 12b of the plate 12. The
second member 38 extends parallel to the lower surface 12b of the
plate 12 and projects from the front end of the first member 37
toward the front of the housing 4. Thus, each first retaining
portion 36a is an L-shaped hook.
For ease of manufacture, each first retaining portion 36a has a
hole 40 that penetratingly extends from the upper surface 12a of
the plate 12 to the lower surface 12b. The insulator 39 is mounted
on the upper surface 12a in such a way as to close the hole 40. The
plate 12 has a hollow 41 in a region to which the insulator 39 is
attached lest an upper surface 39a of the insulator 39 project from
the upper surface 12a of the plate 12. One example of the material
of the insulator 39 is impermeable to liquids and may be a resin
film or sheet coated with an adhesive material, for example.
While the first retaining portions 36a have been described above,
each of the second, third, and fourth retaining portions 36b, 36c
and 36b also has its own first member 37, second member 38, and
insulator 39. As shown in FIG. 6, each second retaining portion 36b
is situated in a position corresponding to each second engaging
portion 21b of the keyboard setting section 11. The second member
38 of the second retaining portion 36b extends parallel to the
lower surface 12b of the plate 12 and projects toward the left-hand
side of the housing 4.
Each third retaining portion 36c is provided in a position
corresponding to each third engaging portion 21c. The second member
38 of the third retaining portion 36c extends parallel to the lower
surface 12b of the plate 12 and projects toward the right-hand side
of the housing 4. Each fourth retaining portion 36d is provided in
a position corresponding to each fourth engaging portion 21d. The
second member 38 of the fourth retaining portion 36d extends
parallel to the lower surface 12b of the plate 12 and projects
toward the front of the housing 4.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plate 12 is placed on the keyboard setting
section 11 in such a way as to cover the opening 14. Thus, the
first, second, third, and fourth retaining portions 36a, 36b, 36c
and 36d of the plate 12 are caused to engage the first, second,
third, and fourth engaging portions 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d,
respectively, of the keyboard setting section 11.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the respective second
members 38 of the first to fourth retaining portions 36a to 36d are
inserted individually into the cuts or holes of the first to fourth
engaging portions 21a to 21d. After the second members 38 are
inserted into the cuts or holes, the plate 12 is slid toward the
front of the housing 4. When the plate 12 is slid, the respective
second members 38 of the first to fourth retaining portions 36a to
36d are caught by the lower surface of the first bottom wall 16,
whereupon the plate 12 can be securely fixed to the housing 4 in
its vertical direction.
With the plate 12 slid in this manner, the plate 12 is fixed to the
keyboard setting section 11 through engagement between screw 48 and
holes 28, 33. Thereupon, the plate 12 can be fixed to the housing 4
also in its horizontal direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard 5 is placed on the plate 12 after
the plate 12 is mounted on the keyboard setting section 11. Thus,
the plate 12 is interposed between the keyboard 5 and the first
bottom wall 16.
The keyboard 5 has a keyboard substrate 44, keys 45, and hole 46.
The keyboard substrate 44 is in contact with the plate 12. The keys
45 are arranged side by side on the keyboard substrate 44. As shown
in FIG. 4, the hole 46 is provided in a position corresponding to
the hole 33 of the lid 18.
The following is a description of the mechanism of the portable
computer 1.
In assembling the portable computer 1, the housing 4 of the body 2
is first assembled having the circuit board 6 therein. Before the
lid 18, plate 12, and keyboard 5 are attached to the assembled
housing 4, the circuit board 6 is exposed to the outside of the
housing 4 through the opening 14 of the keyboard setting section
11. With the circuit board 6 exposed in this manner, the display
unit 3 that is assembled separately is mounted on the body 2. In
mounting the display unit 3 on the body 2, the cable 9 that extends
from the liquid crystal display panel 8 of the display unit 3 is
connected to the circuit board 6 in the housing 4.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cable 9 extends from the display unit 3
that is provided outside the housing 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8,
the cable 9 is attached to the cable mounting groove 29 crossing
the first and second grooves 17a and 17b from top to bottom. The
leading end of the cable 9 is inserted into the opening 14 and
guided into the housing 4. The leading end of the cable 9 in the
housing 4 is connected to a connector (not shown) that is mounted
on the circuit board 6. Thus, the cable 9 is connected electrically
to the circuit board 6.
After the cable 9 is connected electrically to the circuit board 6,
as shown in FIG. 3, the lid 18 is fitted into the cut portion 17.
More specifically, the lid 18 is bonded to the first and second
step portions 24a and 24b with its third bottom wall 31 aligned
with the second bottom walls 25 of the step portions 24a and 24b.
Thereupon, the third bottom wall 31 and the rising portion 32 of
the lid 18 cover the first and second grooves 17a and 17b,
respectively. The first bottom wall 16 and third bottom wall 31 of
the lid 18 surround the whole circumference of the opening 14.
Clearances between the lid 18 and the first and second step
portions 24a and 24b are sealed by the adhesive layer 34.
After the lid 18 is attached to the first and second step portions
24a and 24b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the plate 12 is fixed to
the keyboard setting section 11 by being slid toward the front of
the housing 4. When the plate 12 is mounted on the setting section
11, it covers the opening 14. As the first to fourth retaining
portions 36a to 36d engage the first to fourth engaging portions
21a to 21d, respectively, moreover, the lower surface 12b of the
plate 12 is brought into close contact with the first bottom wall
16 and third bottom wall and 31 of the lid 18 with uniformity.
After the plate 12 is mounted on the keyboard setting section 11,
the keyboard 5 is placed on the plate 12. With the keyboard 5
placed on the plate 12, as shown in FIG. 4, a screw 48 is screwed
into the tapped hole 28 of the first step portion 24a through the
hole 33 and the hole 46 of the keyboard 5, whereupon the keyboard 5
is fixed to the keyboard setting section 11. Thus, the portable
computer 1 is assembled.
If a liquid, such as coffee or water, is accidentally spilled on
the keyboard 5 while the portable computer 1 is being used, it
enters the keyboard setting section 11. The opening 14 of the
setting section 11 is covered by the plate 12. Further, the lower
surface 12b of the plate 12 is in close contact with the first
bottom wall 16 and third bottom wall 31 of the lid 18. Therefore,
the liquid can be prevented from entering the housing 4 through the
setting section 11.
The keyboard setting section 11 has peripheral wall 15. Further,
the second groove 17b of the setting section 11 is covered by the
rising portion 32 of the lid 18. Therefore, the liquid spilled on
the keyboard 5 can be prevented from flowing out to other regions
through the setting section 11.
According to the portable computer 1 constructed in this manner,
its assemblability can be secured, and the liquid-proof performance
of the body 2 can be enhanced. Thus, if the first bottom wall 16 is
formed surrounding the whole circumference of the opening 14, the
cable 9 is guided into the housing 4 through a hole that is located
off the keyboard setting section 11. However, it is very
troublesome to pass the cable 9 through this hole. Although the
liquid-proof performance of the body 2 can be secured, for example,
the assemblability of the portable computer is low.
According to the portable computer 1 of the present embodiment, on
the other hand, the operation for attaching the cable 9 of the
display unit 3 to the circuit board 6 in the housing 4 can be
performed efficiently. More specifically, the cable 9 is guided
into the housing 4 through the opening 14. Since the opening 14
opens wide to cover substantially the whole area of the keyboard
setting section 11 so that the interior of the housing 4 is
exposed, the cable 9 can be attached very efficiently through the
opening 14.
Since the cable 9 is arranged along the first and second grooves
17a and 17b of the cut portion 17, it can be prevented from
overlapping the first bottom wall 16 even if it is fitted into the
housing 4 through the opening 14. When the plate 12 is mounted on
the first bottom wall 16, therefore, the lower surface 12b of the
plate 12 can be brought into close contact with the first bottom
wall 16.
Further, the portable computer 1 of the present embodiment has lid
18, and the whole circumference of the opening 14 can be surrounded
by the first bottom wall 16 and third bottom wall 31 of the lid 18.
If the plate 12 is placed on the first and third bottom walls 16
and 31, therefore, a region around the opening 14 can be sealed in
a liquid-tight manner. Thus, a liquid can be prevented from getting
into the housing 4 through the opening 14. A "liquid-proof
structure" includes a waterproof structure and implies a structure
that can prevent penetration of water or any other liquid.
Since the upper surface 16u of the first bottom wall 16 and the
upper surface 31u of the third bottom wall 31 are situated flush
with each other, in particular, the lower surface 12b of the plate
12 can be brought into close contact with the first and third
bottom walls 16 and 31.
The liquid-proof performance of the body 2 can be also secured if
the bottom surface of the keyboard substrate 44 is formed smoothly
so that the keyboard 5 brought directly into close contact with the
first and third bottom walls 16 and 31 to cover the opening 14.
However, the plate 12 is mounted separately so that the retaining
portions 36a to 36d enable the plate 12 to be brought uniformly and
entirely into close contact with the bottom walls 16 and 31. Thus,
the liquid-proof performance of the body 2 is improved.
Since the lid 18 is attached to the first and second step portions
24a and 24b with the adhesive layer 34, no clearance exists between
the lid 18 and the step portions 24a and 24b. Thus, a liquid can be
prevented from entering the housing 4. Further, the use of the
adhesive layer 34 facilitates the lid 18 to be attached to the step
portions 24a and 24b.
Since the lid 18 covers the second groove 17b, moreover, a liquid
spilled on the keyboard 5 can be prevented from flowing out to
other regions through the keyboard setting section 11. Thus, the
portable computer 1 can be obtained having further enhanced
liquid-proof performance.
Since the respective holes 28, 33 and 46 of the first step portion
24a, lid 18, and keyboard 5 are provided on the same axis, the
keyboard 5, lid 18, and first bottom wall 16 can be fixed together
with use of the one screw 48.
The location of the adhesive layer 34 is not limited to the lower
surface 31a of the third bottom wall 31 but the layer 34 may be
provided on the respective second bottom walls 25, side walls 26,
and rear walls 27 of the first and second step portions 24a and
24b, for example. Further, the mechanisms for the attachment of the
lid 18 to the step portions 24a and 24b is not limited to the
adhesive layer 34. For example, another sealing member may
alternatively be attached between the lid 18 and the step portions
24a and 24b. In this case, the lid and the step portions may be
fixed by latch structures or hook-and-anchor assemblies, for
example.
Next, a portable computer 1a as an electronic apparatus according
to a second embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12. In the personal computer
1a, the same structural members as in the personal computer 1
according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference
numerals, respectively, and their explanation will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 9, a body 2 of the portable computer 1a has a
sealing member 51. The sealing member 51 is interposed between a
first bottom wall 16 of a keyboard setting section 11 and a plate
12. It is in the form of a frame that is one size larger than the
opening 14 of the setting section 11 and surrounds the opening 14.
One example of material of the sealing member 51 is elastic member
and absorbs water, e.g., sponge, rubber, or resin.
The first bottom wall 16 of the keyboard setting section 11 has a
first groove 52 in which the sealing member 51 is placed. The first
groove 52 has the shape of a frame corresponding to the sealing
member 51 and is formed around the opening 14. The depth of the
first groove 52 is half the thickness of the sealing member 51, for
example.
As shown in FIG. 10, a third bottom wall 31 of a lid 18 has a
second groove 53 in which the sealing member 51 is also placed.
When the lid 18 is attached to first and second step portions 24a
and 24b, the second groove 53 is continuous with the first groove
52. Thus, the whole circumference of the opening 14 is surrounded
by the first and second grooves 52 and 53. The first and second
grooves 52 and 53 are equal in depth.
The following is a description of the mechanism of the portable
computer 1a.
In assembling the portable computer 1a, as shown in FIG. 9, the lid
18 is fitted into a cut portion 17, and the sealing member 51 is
then placed on the first and second grooves 52 and 53 from above.
After the sealing member 51 is placed in this manner, the plate 12
is mounted on the keyboard setting section 11. When first, second,
third, and fourth retaining portions 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d engage
first, second, third, and fourth engaging portions 21a, 21b, 21c
and 21d, respectively, the sealing member 51 is compressed between
the first bottom wall 16 and the plate 12, as shown in FIG. 11. As
the sealing member 51 is compressed in this manner, the gap between
the first bottom wall 16 and the plate 12 is fully
liquid-tight.
According to the portable computer 1a constructed in this manner,
the liquid-proof performance of the body 2 can be enhanced. The
portable computer 1a of the present embodiment has the cut portion
17 and the lid 18. Thus, it can produce at least the same
liquid-proof effect as the portable computer 1 of the first
embodiment.
The portable computer 1a of the present embodiment further has the
sealing member 51 between the first bottom wall 16 and the plate
12. The gap between the first bottom wall 16 and the plate 12 is
made fully liquid-tight by the sealing member 51, so that a liquid
spilled on a keyboard 5 can be prevented from entering a housing 4.
Thus, the portable computer 1a of the present embodiment can obtain
a liquid-proof performance of a higher level.
In the portable computer 1a according to the present embodiment, in
particular, the sealing member 51 is supported by the first bottom
wall 16 and the third bottom wall 31. Since the respective upper
surfaces 16u and 31u of these bottom walls are flush with each
other, the sealing member 51 is compressed uniformly. This serves
further to enhance the liquid-proof performance of the portable
computer 1a.
If the first and second grooves 52 and 53 are provided, in
particular, the mounting performance of the sealing member 51 is
improved, and the sealing member 51 cannot be shifted when it is
compressed. The location of the grooves 52 and 53 in which the
sealing member 51 is mounted is not limited to the first bottom
wall 16 or the lid 18, but a groove may be formed on a lower
surface 12b of the plate 12, for example. The depth of the first
and second grooves 52 and 53 is not limited to half the thickness
of the sealing member 51. It is suitable that the depth of the
grooves 52 and 53 are smaller than the thickness of the sealing
member 51.
Although the portable computers 1 and 1a according to the first and
second embodiments have been described herein, it is to be
understood that the present invention is not limited to these
embodiments. One embodiment of the present invention may be also
applied to the attachment a cable other than the cable 9 of the
display unit 3, e.g., a cable of the keyboard 5. Further, the
mounting section to which one embodiment of the invention is
applied is not limited to the keyboard setting section 11, but may
be a touch-pad setting section, for example. One embodiment of the
invention may be applied not only to where the cut portion 17 is
provided for the passage of the cable, but also to any other cut
portions that are provided according to design or manufacture
needs.
While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described,
these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and
are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the
novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a
variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions,
substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems
described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of
the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are
intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within
the scope and spirit of the inventions.
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